ABSTRACT
Abortion is a sensitive topic that has evoked strong reactions from women’s rights advocates, political leaders, and religious authorities in Israel. The political establishment has generally regarded the practice of induced abortion with disfavor, and while abortion is legal in Israel, an authorized abortion is difficult to obtain in a city such as Jerusalem where the religious authorities exercise considerable influence and there is notable anti-abortion activity (Golan 1987). For example, the Jerusalem-based organization Efrat, the International Organization for Saving Jewish Babies, actively lobbies against abortion. The abortion issue is further complicated by the reluctance of the Israeli government to take a strong stance in favor of family planning. Previous studies of reproductive behavior in Israel have indicated an inverse association between abortion rates and contraceptive use (Sabatello 1990; Slonim-Nevo 1988). To the extent that abortion rates are high among certain groups, further efforts to promote family planning are warranted.
